*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Somebody stop this annoying tone... gosh shut up shut up shut up... Can't be morning yet... too soon!' thoughts ran through her mind in a jumbled train.
"Band karo na isse," a croaky voice said beside her, "jaldi!!!"
"Haan Haan," she replied, finally coming to her senses, and realising it was her phone and not the alarm clock. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking rapidly, overcoming their natural reaction to close back. Yeah, they weren't too happy at being opened at half one in the night!
She pressed accept without bothering to look at the caller ID... too much work!
"hello? Kaun bol raha hai?"
"Nishi? It's me.. Rhea!"
"Rhea dii?? Itni raat ko?"
"I know Nishi and I'm sorry... but tumhe abhi issi waqt City Hospital aana hoga! Ragini Dii ka accident ho gaya hai.. she's critical! Maine ghar pe phone karne ki koshish ki but ghar ka phone engaged hai aur Aarav otha nahi raha!"
"WHAT?! Maa ka accident? Kab... Kaise? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?!"
"Tum please pehle yahan aao! Zyaada sawaal mat pooch aur ghar pe batao please!"
"OK! Main abhi aati hoon"
She put the phone down with shaking hands. "Neesi? Kya hua?" a now-very-awake Jignesh asked from her right.
Recovering from her shock and starting to worry, Nishi turned to her husband, "maa ka accident ho gaya hai Jignesh... Humein jaana hoga! Tum taiyaar ho jao.. Main baa ko bata ke aati hoon!"
They jumped out of the bed and rushed like bats out of hell. While Nishi told a very worried baa about the happenings, and informed her that they'd have to leave immediately with promises to update regularly, Jignesh slipped on suitable clothes and grabbed the essentials (I know seems too dramatic but it's an indian soap.. iske bina adhoora rahega! ;)) They both rushed out of the house scared sick with both their phones in their hands trying to reach their family... all the while praying for the woman who was the light of all the family members' life!
Darn! Why wasn't anyone picking up?! Suddenly Nishi's luck shone as a sleepy voice answered "Hello?"
"Hello Suhani? City hospital abhi! Mom ka accident ho gaya hai!"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
He tossed in his bed for the thousandth time that night.. he just couldn't fall asleep! Ever since Ma's phone call, a strange feeling had settled over his heart. Like something wasn't right.
Finally giving up on trying to not care, he picked up his phone for the sixth time and dialled the number, this time, letting it ring and not disconnecting on the first ring. No response. Dialling again, he waited to hear her voice trying to calm down. He knew she'd be angry... after all it was 1am! And he had no right to be calling her at this hour... Not after 15 years of silence! No response again. As he pressed redial and waited for the rings to finish, his anxiety started to get the better of him. He searched for Dr Aman's number from his contacts list and pressed dial. He waited as it connected and then as it rang but, oh, surprise surprise, no answer!
"Ye Dr Aman bhi ajeeb hi hain.. Phone uthaun ya na uthaun, is mein bhi confused hi honge," his almost non-audible whisper broke the silence of the room. But the feeble attempt at calming himself down did not do it's magic. "ye Ragini phone kyun nahi utha rahi? Ek aur baar try karta hoon!" (BTW, he knows about the fake-marriage)
But before his fingers could tap the woman in question's name, a loud scream rang through his house, "DAD! AGHAM! DAD!?"
He rushed out of is room to see Agham run out of his and then to see a sobbing Suhani stand with her phone in her hand. "kya hua Suhani? Tum ro kyun rahi ho?"
Nachiket walked towards Suhani who was now hyperventilating, trying to speak but unable to, and Agham who was standing beside his sister, rubbing her back, trying to calm her down.
"Da-Dad! Mo..mo...mom ka accident ho gaya hai!"
"KYA?" came the combined voice of Agham and Nachiket.
"Nishi didi ka phone aaya tha... City hospital.. we have to go, dad! Please!"
And all hell broke loose! Rushing to his room to grab his keys, Nachiket ran down the stairs, taking two at a time with Agham and Suhani hot on his heels! With his heart in his throat, Nachiket was barely able to concentrate on his actions. Only one thought struck his mind and stuck to the front: "RAGINI!"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Knock knock knock
3 sharp knock echoed in the room, magnifying in effect due to the late hour at night. Dr Mehra looked up in surprised and softly said come in as she saw who it was through the glass doors. Rhea walked in and curved her lips into a barely there smile in front of her senior.
"Dr Rhea? Is everything ok?"
"Yes Dr Mehra..! Actually I wanted a favour?"
"kahiye Dr Rhea? How can I help you?!"
"Dr Mehra... May I please be assigned Ragini Patel's case?"
"But Rhea...-"
"I know Dr! Yes I do know her personally as well and this is why I want her case. I don't mean any offence but I think sirf main hi is case ko sambhal sakti hoon. Dr Mehra, this case requires not only medical effort but a little bit of personal involvement too! I know Ragini ji and though I cannot disclose the story as it isn't mine to tell, I know that it is the main reason for her current situation. So please, I request you to let me handle this case!"
"OK Rhea! I have a feeling that this goes much deeper than it appears. So you may handle the case. But I want you working with someone else as a team on this case! That way we'll not be breaking any rules of the hospital but only bending them a bit!"
"Absolutely Dr Mehra! I'm ready! And thank you so much!"
"You're welcome."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Miss Ragini Patel? Unka accident hua hai?" a very breathless voice asked the reception.
"Aap kaun?" returned the stern voice.
"Main unki--" "NISHI!"
She turned around sharply and rushed towards the familiar face. Taking her hands in her own, she hurriedly asked, "Rhea Di... Ye sab kya ho raha hai?! Mom ka accident...?"
"Please calm down Nishi! Main night shift pe thi aur break pe jaa rahi thi jab ambulance ki side se nikalte waqt meri nazar Ragini di pe padi. Apparently, road ke beech mein chal kisi car k saath accident hua aur aas paas log hone ki wajah se jaldi hospital pahuncha diya gaya which was a good thing because it's a major accident Nishi. Vo ab ICU mein hain and agle 72 hours bahut critical hain! She must regain consciousness.. or she might slip into Coma!"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Rushing through the hospital corridors, Nachiket, Agham and Suhani searched for ICU number 3. Suddenly, a very familiar lock of hair caught Agham's sight. "Nishi," he breathed and pointed. She seemed to be talking to someone. The trio rushed towards the little group and caught on to the last few words spoken.
"Vo ab ICU mein hain and agle 72 hours bahut critical hain! She must regain consciousness.. or she might slip into Coma!"
Nachiket stopped dead in his tracks as his brain processed the words he had spoken or heard uncountable times... for his patients... Not a loved one... Especially never the one he lived for!
"72 hours bahut critical hain" "she might slip into coma"
"Critical" "coma"
And just like that.. his world came crashing down!
Dont forget to comment! Much Love... :)